Operating mechanism for weight-supporting plungers



April 14, 1925. 1,533,871

L. LEE

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WEIGHT SUPPORTING PLUNGERS Filed Sept. 2, 1922 I VENTOR chines,

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

LEIF LEE, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO MESTA, OF PITTSBURGH,

PENNSYLVANIA.

ornaa'rme nncnnmsu non wnrerrr-surronrmc PLUNGERS.

i Application measeptember 2,1922. Seria1-Ro.585,974.

To all whom it may concem: :1

Be it known that I, Lam LEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and the State of Ohio, have made'a new anduseful Invention in Operating Mechanism for Weight-Supporting Plungers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to operating mechanisms for machines, such as pickling ma and has for an object to produce a mechanism of simple construction which is more effective and eflicient in operation than similar mechanisms now in use and known to me- Pickling machines are ordinarily so arranged that they are capable of being operated to move metal artlcles into and out of the picklingvats and to agitate the articles while'in the pickling solution. .Such an arrangement of apparatus is advantageous, since it eliminates the necessity of re-handling the articles subjected to the pickling solution, and also renders the pickling operation more uniform.

A further object of my invention is therefore to provide a simple and efl'ective oper ating mechanism which may be employed in connection with a pickling machine in lowering metal articles into the ickling solution, agitating the articles whi e in the solution and lifting the articles from the solution.

A further and m0re\specific object of the invention is to produce an operating mechanism for metal pickling machines which is simpler and less costly to manufacture and operate than apparatus now in use and known to me.

Inthe drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a pickling machine equipped with my invention; several details of the machine and operating mechanism embodying my invention are shown in section for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is a fragmental view of apparatus embodying a modification of my invention.

Referrin to the drawings, the pickling machine includes a weight-supporting plunger 3 whiclris mounted in a vertical support or guide 4 and is equipped with two or more horizontally extending arms 5. The arms 5 are adapted to support trays or frames 6 for receiving the metal articles to be pickled. These frames are preferably formed of acid proof metal and as shown, are suspended from the arms 5 by means of chains or cables 7. I,

In the illustrated embodiment, the plunger 3 extends vertically through its support or guide4 and its lower end projects into a chamber 8 formed within the support-4. A port 9 is provided in the lower end of the chamber through liquid is delivered to the chamber. I preferably employ a non-compressible fluid such as water as the actuating fluid for the plunger. In the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 the actuating liquid is delivered to the pressure chamber 8 by means of a constantly operating pump 10 which, as illus trated, comprises piston 11 and its associated cylinder 12.

I have shown a valve mechanism capable of automatic and manual control for controlling the operation of the pump 10, so that it functions either as a pump in delivering actuating fluid to the chamber 8, or as a pulsator for the purpose of imparting pulsations to thechamber 8. The valve'mechanism is also capable of rendering the pump 10 inoperative so that it neither transfers liquid nor pulsations 'to the chamber 8.

As illustrated, the valve mechanism includes a valve casing 13 in which two valves 14 and 15 are mounted. The casing is provided with a port 16 which communlcates with the interior of the cylinder 12 through a pipe or passage 17. A port 18 formed in the casing communicates with the port 9 of the pressure chamber 8 through a pipe or passage 19. Communication between these two ports is controlled by the valve 14. T a casing is also provided with a port 20 which communicates, through a pipe or passage 21, with a receptacle or sump 22 which forms a source of'supplyfor the actuating liquid. A

assage 23 formed within the casing is so ocated and arranged that it is adapted to the casing. The bar is provided-with three cam lobes 26, 27.and 28, so arranged that one or both of the valves 14 and 15 may he rendered inoperative.

Asshown, the valve 15 is provided with a valve stem 29 which projects through the casing. A roller is so mounted on the stem-i 29 that it will lift the valve 14 off of its seat. and hold it in an inoperative position when engaged by either of the cam obes 26-or 27 of the. bar 24; The roller is however so located on the stem 29 and. so corelated with the bar 24 that itwill not interfere with the pressure responsive operation of the valve 14 unless engaged by one or the other of the above-mentioned cam lobes.

The valve 15 is provided with a roller 31 which is similarly arranged with relation to its valve stem 32. The roller 31 is ada ted to be engaged by the cam lobe 28 font e purpose of lifting the valve 15 off of its seat, but is so arranged that it does not interferewith the pressure responsive operation of the valve 15 when not engaged by the cam lobe.

As illustrated, the cam bar is adapted to be actuated means of a bell crank 34 through the agency of a rod 35. The bell crank is pivotally mounted on a bracket carried by the'support 4 and is provided with a bifurcated arm 36, which straddles a rod 37 carried by the plunger 3. The rod is provided with two stops 38 and 39 which are adapted to engage and actuate the lever 34 for the purpose of automatically limiting the travel of the plunger 3.

As shown, the apparatus is so arranged that the trays or frames 6 are located in pickling vats'40 when the support plunger is in its lowermost position. When it is desired to raise the frames out of the vats the cam bar 24 is shifted to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Under such conditions the pump 10 operates as a pump drawing liquid from the sump 22 and forcing it into the pressure chamber 8. It will be apparent that during the suction stroke of the pump, the valve 15 opens in response to the reduction in pressure within the pump cylinder thereby drawing liquid from the sump into the cylinder 12 or the communicating passages. During the pressure stroke of the piston 11 the valve 15 seats and the valve 14 lifts, thereby causing liquid to be forced into the pressure chamber 8. This causes the plunger 3 to rise and lifts the frames out of the pickling vats. In lowering the frames into the vats both valves 14 and 15 are lifted from their seats. This is accomplished by shiftin the cam-bar so that the lobe 27 engages t 1e roller 30 and the lobe 28 engages the roller 31. Under such conditions the chamber 8 is placed in open communication with the sump 22 and the pressure of the plunger forces the actuating liquid from the pose 0 mean:

chamber 8 to thev sump. As the plunger.

moves downwardly the stop 38 carried by the rod37 moves downwardly with it and finall engages the arm 36 of bell crank 34 there y shifting the cam bar to the position illustrated in F1 1. This cuts off communication between t 1e chamber 8 and-the sump 22 since it permits both valves 14 and 15 to move to theirlseats. f

When it is desired to impart pulsations to the chamber 8 for the purpose of oscillating the trays 6 and thereby agitating the articles located in the pickling solution, the cam bar is shifted to a position in which the lobe 26 en ges the roller 30 and thereby lifts the va ve 14 from its seat. This is accomplished by'manually shifting the position of the bell crank 34. Under such conditions the operating pistonll occasions variations or pulsations in the liquid within the chamber 8 and which cause the support piston 3to move up and down in substgntial synchronism with the piston 11, the amount of movement being in direct proportion to the displacement of the piston 11 and plunger 3. I

l The stop 39 limits the upward movement of the plunger 3 while the pump 10 is functioning as a pump, since it moves-into contact with the-arm 36 of the bell crank 34, thereby shifting the position of the cam bar 24 fromthat shown in the drawings to a position in which both valves 14 and 15 are lifted from their seats by the cam lobes 27 and 28. After the travel of the plunger 3 has been stopped by the automatic action of one of the stops 38 or 39, the movement of the plunger 3 is reversedby a manual shifting of the bell crank and a consequent readjustment of the valves 14 and 15.

It will be apparent that any means may be employed for driving the pump 10. As illustrated, the piston 11 is provided with a piston rod 42 which is driven by a motor 44 in the usual manner. The usual means may be employed for starting and stopping the motor.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated apparatus s which may be employed with a portion of the ap aratus shown in Fig. 1 for the purfaccom lishing the results above described. As s own, an accumulator 45 is adapted to be employed as the source of pressure for lifting the support plunger 3. Thisrenders the valves 14 and 15 and their operating mechanism unnecessary and they may be dispensed with where an accumulator is employed. As shown in Figure 2, the

pipe or passage 19, communicating with the pressure chamber 8 may communicate directly with the pipe or passage 17, communicating with cylinder,12' and; the accumulator may be so arranged as to be placed in communication with both of these pipes. As illustrated, a pipe orpassage 46 is\ adapted to establish communication between the accumulator 45 and chamber 8.

I 8 is placed in open communication with .an Q exhaust pipe or passage 48 which may communicate with a sump. It will be apparent that the trays or frames 6 may therefore be raised or lowered by the manipulatibn of the three-way valve,-since the accum'ulator will force liquid into the chamher 8 when, the. valve 47 is turned to place it in communication with the .pipe 19, and the weight of the plunger 3 will force the liquid from the chamber 8 when the valve 47 is turned to the position illustrated in Figure 2. The three-way valve may also be turned 'to a third position in which the pipe 19 neither communicates with the accumulator nor with the exhaust pipe and when .in this position the piston 11 may be employed asheretofore described for the purpose of imparting pulsations'to the interior ofthe pressure chamber 3. As. shown, the motor 44 is provided'with a fly wheel 43 for storing up energy during the operation of the piston 11. It will be apparent that while the pump 10 is operat-' ing as a pulsator the piston 11 isat all times subjected .to the. pressure occasioned by the weight of the plunger 3 and the apparatus carried by it, consequently the fly wheel 43 stores u' energy imparted to the piston during its ackward strokes, and in this way minimizes the power necessary for pulsating the plan er 3.

It will of course understood that various changes, modifications and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by" the appended claims.

What I claim is: i I

1. In combination with a weight supporting plunger of a machine, a pressure chamber into which said plunger rojects, means for delivering actuating fluid to the chamber to support the plunger in difl'erent position with relation thereto, and means for delivering pulsations to said fluid within the chamber to reciprocatethe plunger.

2. In combination with a weight support ing plunger, a pressure chamber into which said plunger projects, means for delivering fluid under pressure .to said chamber, and means for occasioning periodic pulsations in the fluid within the c amber to occasion periodic reciprocations of'the plunger.

3. In combination with a weightsupporting plunger, a"pressure chamber into which saidplunger projects, means for subjecting said chamber to fluid pressure and means comprising a reciprocating piston for occasioning pulsations in the fluid within said chamber.

4. In combination with a weight supporting plunger, a pressure chamber into which said plunger projects, means for subjecting said chamber to hydraulic pressure for the for occasioiiing pulsations in the fluid with- I in said chamber.

6. In combination with a weight supporting plunger'of a machine, a ressure 0 amber, means for delivering pu sations to the fluid under pressure in said cha'mber,- and means for controlling the delivery of fluid from said first mentioned means to said chamber whereby successive pulsations are caused to successively increase the volume of the fluid within said chamber.v I 7. In combination with a weight supporting' plunger of a machine, a pressure chamber into which said plunger extends, means comprising a reciprocating p enclosing cylinder for de iverin liquid under pressure t6 said chamber, an a valve mechanism between said chamber and said lunger and an cylinder for controlling the operation of 9. Incombination with the tray sup orting plunger of a pickling machine, a c amher into which said plunger projects, means as confining fluid under pressure within said chamber to support said plunger, and

a reciprocating piston for imparting pulsations to the fluid within the chamber to reciprocate the piston.

10.- In combination in a pickling machine, a tray supporting plunger, trays supported by said ,pliuiger, pickling vats into which said trays are movable, a guide for said .plunger provided with a pressure chamber mto which said plunger projects, a pump for delivering actuating fluid to said chamber, an adjustable valve mechanism for controlling the operation ofsaid pump, and means actuated by said plunger for autoe matically controlling the operation; of said valve mechanism. 7

11. In combination in a pickling machine a tray supporting plunger, trays supportedby said plunger and movable into and out of pickling vats, a guide for said plunger, a pressure chamber into which said plunger projects, a pumpfor delivering actuating fluid to said chamber to move said plunger,

a valve mechanism for controlling the oper-' plunger, a pressure chamber into which said plunger pro ects, a reciprocating piston and an associated cylinder for delivering actuating fluid to said chamber, a valve mechanism for controlling the operation of said (plunger projects,

piston and cylinder and means for controlling the operation of said valve mechanism whereby actuating fluid discharges from said chamber independentl 'of the operation of said iston and cy inder.

13. In combination in a picklin machine, a tray supporting plun er, a gui e for said plunger, a pressure 0 amber into which said lungert projects, means for maintaining uid under pressure within said chamber and means for alternately. increasing and decreasing the volume of fluid within said chamber to cause said plunger to:

pulsate:

14. In combination in a pickling machine, aktray supporting plunger, a .guide for the plunger, a pressure chamber into which the an accumulator for deliv ering actuating fluid to said pressure chanr ber, and a reciprocating piston operatively L associated with said pressure chamber for occasioning pulsations if the fluid within said chamber.

subscribed my name this 31st day of August, 1922. Y

LEIF LEE.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto v 

